Stop light switch system for automobiles



I United States Patent [111 3,543,134

[72] Inventor Millard C. Harthan,Jr. [56] References Cited gzosgianmrt Ave., North Plalnl'ield, NJ. UNITED STATES PATENTS [211 App. 837,284 2,525,824 10/1950 Nagel ZOO/86X [22] Filed Junez71969 3,083,278 3/1963 Mukai ZOO/86.5 [45] Paten e 1970 Primary ExaminerRobert K. Schaefer Assistant Examiner.l. R. Scott Attorney-Charles H. Recht [54] STOP LIGHT SWITCH SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOBILES ABSTRACT- An im proved stoplight switch system for au- 2 chums 4 Drawing Figs tomobiles and the like is disclosed and which includes a heel [52] US." ZOO/86.5, actuated switch that is closed whenever a drivers heel is 200/133 removed from the accelerator pedal. The closing of the switch [51] Int. (I l-I0lh 3/54 energizes the brake lights and thereby gives an advance wam- [50] Field ofSearch 200/822, ing of an imminent braking operation of the vehicle as the 83.34, 83.91, 86, 86.5, 153.19 drivers foot is removed from the accelerator.

FOAM RUBBER D STRAP J SCREW SPRING 23 RUBBERMAT a FLOORMAT 4 T FRAME A G PLATE E 3 l5 F 22 IZA A METAL PLATE c CARFRAME l PATENIEUDEBI slam 3.548; 1 :34

' SHEET 1 OF 2 FLOOR MAT 4 l SWITCH ASSEMBLY 3 CARFRAME I FOAM RUBBER o STRAP J SCREW 2| |9 FLOORMAT 4 FRAME A\ I3A SPRING 23 /RUBBERMAT B Nwmw' J I I e PLATEE I 2 I5 F 22 I2A IIA METAL PLATEC CARFRAMEI BRAKE PEDAL STOPLIGHT SWITCH 32 FIG. 4

IGNITION SWITCH 33 STOPLIGHT 35 -b-o K SNAP SWITCH l4 llI/VENTOR M/LLARD c. HARTl/AN,JR

@AWL z [1% A T TORNEI PATENTEDDEM 5|97B 31548134 V SHEET 2 OF 2 F INVENTOR MILL/1RD C. HART/MMJR ZAML/Zfl ATTORNEY provide a quicker and more rapid indication that a car is decelerating and isgabout to be braked by its driver.

In the trafhc congestion currently. prevailing, it is well known that many accidents and rear end collisions occur because the driver of thesecond'car did not quickly react to the stop signal provided by the lead car as its driver depressed the brake pedal. A car traveling at 6Q -M'.P.H. travels 88 ftJsec. and therefore, a difference of even a few tenths of-a second in reaction time may mean the differenceibetween a safe stop by the driver of the second car: and a rear end colli- 810R. n y 1 Although the typical cargenerates a stop signal when its brake pedal is depressed. this signal is 'not'generatcd until one. half second or so afterthe driver had decidedftobrakc his car. in this one-half second interval, the drivel-is inthe process of removing his foot from the accelerator pedal and transferring it to the brake pedal. With this arrangement a signal is not developed by the brake lights of the-first car until the second the first car has decided to stop. This 44 feet ofien maybe critical and'the difference between an accident or a safe stop. I Arrangements such as accelerator foot switches have been BRIEF stmmitv or ms irsvaiinos 1 It is therefore an objectof the invention to provide an improved stop signal switch system for an automobile.

in accordance with my invention, 1 provide an improved stoplight signal system which includes a heel-actuated switch immediately to the rear of the accelerator and'installed flush withthefloorofthecar. I] e I In the normal driving of vehicles embodying my invention thedriver's foot is on the accelerator pedal andhis heel rests on my switch so that its contacts are held-open. However, as soon as the driver lifts his foot from the switch and the accelerstor pedal, preparatory to a brakingoperation, the switch contacts close, and immediately complete a circuit to energize the brake light of-the vehicle. This expedient provides a' driver of a second car'with advance warningof the fact that the car ahead of him is decelerating and that its brakes are about to be orarebeinga There and o objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent upon a reading of the following description thercoftakenin conjunction with the drawing in which:

FIG I discloses my stoplight switchassembly and illustrates its relationship to the accelerator pedal and "the foot of the driver of the vehicle;

FIG. 2 discloses the details of my switch assembly with its components being shown in a spaced apart relationship from ea'chother;

FIG. 3dis'closes a vertical cross sectionofthe switch shown on FIG. 2when fullysssembled;and

FIG. 4 discloses the brakelight circu ing my invention. I

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. I discloses the forward portionof a'car floor or-frame I. an scceleratorpedal 2. the switch assembly 3. of my inven-' tion, and the shoe 5 ofa driver of the vehicle. The accelerator pedal 3 is attached to a lever memberlk whose other end (not shown) is attached tothe carburetor linkage to control the speed of the vehicle. Member 2A is pivotably aflixed by a pin and member 23 to the forward fire wall portion offr'ame 1.

portion of the switch assembly is coplanar with the top of mat 4. The switch assembly 3 is also positioned to the rear of the accelerator-pedal 2 so-that, during normal driving conditions,

the shoe of the driver rests on pedal 2 as well as on switch assembly 3. The pressureof the heel 5A of shoe 5 against the upper surface of the switchassemblymaintains the switch contacts open so that the brake light of the vehicle is notenergized. However, the switch contacts close as soon as heel SA is raised of? of switch assembly 3'when the'driver removes his foot from the accelerator and prepares to .brake the vehicle.

onto the neck 14A of switch 14 to'hold it firmly in position.

The closing of these contacts energizes the brake lights irnmediately and thereby trailing car. I

The details of my switch assembly 3 are shown in expanded rm in FIG. 2 while FIG. 3 shows avertical cross section. With reference to both FIGS. 2 and 3 where like elements bear. like designations, the switch assembly includes a bottom .mouriting plate E having a hole in its center through which protrudes the threaded neck portion 14A of a snap switch 14 whose body is positioned below plate Nut 15 is threaded gives advance warning tothe driver ofa Pin 14B of switch 14 is slidably positioned'within neck 14A.

.The depression of pin 14B opens theswitch contacts which car has traveled 44 feet after the instant of time the driver of z receivingspacersl2.;-

s e e sare otherwise normally closed when the pin is raised. The metal cover F is positioned below plate E with the hollow portion of the box being designed to receive the switch 14 when cover F is mounted against the lower surface of plate E. The function of bok F is to protect switch 14 from injury by flying rocks, etc., on the bottom side of the car.

.The four spacers 12(12A through 12D) are affixed by any suitable means to each corner of mounting plate E as shown on FIG. 2. The upper portion of each spacerlZ is drilled and tapped to receive one of screws 21. After the nut 15 is tightened onto neck element 14A, spring 23 is positioned over the portion of neck 14A that protrudes beyond the nut 15.

A foam rubber member D having corner holes adapted to receive spacers .12 is lowered and positioned .on top of mount- -ing plate E. The center of foam rubber. member D has a hole Metal .plate C. is then lowered and positioned on top. of member D so that its corner holes receive spacers 12. Each corner hole 17 of plate 0: is large enough in'diameter so that plate C may be pivoted or depressed downward about anythereof. When so positioned, the top of spring23. presses upwards against'the bottom of plate C."A,st rap J is-then positioned on top each side of plate C with the holes in the right strap member] receiving the spacers 12A and 128. The holes offlthe other strap I receive spacers 12C and 12D when the strap is positioned on the left top end of plate C. Next rubber mat B, is on top plate C with holes 19 of mat B Frame member A having corner holes 19 is then positioned over the mat B with its holes 19 in alignment with spacers l2. Screws 21 are then inserted throughholes l9 and into the hollowed out and tapped portion of spacers 12. The switch assembly is then positioned, after screwsf Zl-are tightened, on v i the car floor or frame '1 as shown on FIG. 3. A suitable opening in the frame receives cover F and plate E. is affi xed to the frame by means of cars "A and 11B and" screws 13A and 13B. Screws 13A and 13B hold'the assembly fixed'with respect to the car frame. Ears 22 of member F rest on top of g 5 an opening in frame 1 asshown in FIGS. 1 and 3.

The upward pressure provided by spring 23 normally forces plate C away from the pin 148 so the switch contacts are closed. However, the pressure of the driver's heel as the car is in operation maintains plate C and switch pin 14!! depressed.

This holds the switch contacts open. However, whenever the driver removes his foot from the accelerator, the plate C rises The switch assembly 3 is partly positioned in a cutout of .under the influence of the spring, the switchcontacts close,

and the stoplights are immediately energized. 7

FIG. 4 discloses a simplified stoplight circuit of an automoframe I and partly in a cutout in floor mat 4 sothat the top bile embodying my invention. The stoplight '35, is in a first sesufficiently large in diameter to receive nut 15 and spring 23.

spacer 12 by a depressive downward forccon any portion ries circuit comprising brake pedal switch 32, fuse 31 and battery to gloun'd, The light is energized whenever the brake pedal is"depr sd to close the switch 32 contacts. Lamp 35 is also in a secondseries circuit comprising snap switch 14, ignition svVitchSSQfuse 31 and battery 3.9 to ground. In this circuit, the lamp '35 is energized after the-ignition switch 33 is closed whenever switch contacts 14 are closed as the driver's footis not resting against plate C to hold pin 14B down.

.I claim:

1, In a vehicle having a foot controlled accelerator, a brake fsignal light, and a floor mounted switch assembly adapted to be controlled by the heel portion of the driver's foot that controls said accelerator so that said brake light is off when the switch assembly is engaged by said heel and so that said light is energized whenever said heel is removed from said switch assembly preparatory to a braking operation of said vehicle, said -=-;-rwitch assembly'comprising: a rectangular-shaped horizontal mounting plate, a hole extending vertically through the center 1 of said plate from its bottom to its'top surface, a switch positending spacers each of which is affixed to the top surface of said plate near each corner thereof, a foam rubber mat positioned adjacent the top surface of said plate and having corner holes for receiving said spacers and a center hole for receiving said nut, a coil spring vertically oriented and positioned on topv of said nut with said 'pin extending fcoaxially through said springs, a control plate positioned atop said foam rubber mat and having'corner holes for receiving said spacers, said comer holes of "said controlplate being larger in diameter 'thansaid.

spacers so that said control plate may pivot downwardly about any of said spacers and against said spring and said pin, a rubber mat positioned adjacent the top surface of said control plate and having corner holes for receiving said spacers, a top frame member positioned over and adjacent said mat and having comer holes for receiving said spacers, screws for extending into a top drilled out portion of each of said spacers for said pin can travel upwards.

cutout therein to the rear of said accelerator, contact means on said switch, said contact means being held open whenever said pinis depressed downward by said heel resting on said control plate, and said contact means being closed when said heel is removed from said control plate .so that said spring urges said control plate upwards and permits said pin to travel upwards. n

2. In a vehicle having a I brake signal light and a floor mounted switch assembly adapted to be controlled by the heel portion of thedriv'ers foot so that said light is off when the switch assembly is engaged by said heel and so that said light is energized whenever the drivers foot is removed from said assembly, said switch assembly comprising a rectangular shaped horizontal mounting plate, a hole extendin'gv'ertically through said plate, a switch positioned on the under side of said plate, a threaded stud portion of said switch extending upwards through said hole with the upper extremity of said stud portion extending above the top surface "of said plate, a vertically oriented switch control pin slidably pos'itione'd'in the center of said stud portion and extending upwards beyond the top extremity of said stud portion, vertically extending spacers each of'which is afiixed to the top surface of said plate neareach corner thereof, a foam rubber mat positioned atop and adjacent said plate and having comer holes for receiving said spacers and a center hole for receiving said nut, a coil spring vertically oriented and positioned on top of said plate with said pin extendrng coaxrally through said spring, a control plate positioned atop said foam rubber mat'and having corner holes for receiving saidspacers, said carrier holes of said control plate being larger in diameter than said spacers so that said control plate maypivot downwardly about any of said spacers, said spring being'tensioned to urge said control plate upwards to reduce the downward force on said pin, contact means-on said switch, said contact means being held open whenever said pin is depressed downward by said heel resting onsaidcontrol plate, and said contact means being closed whenever said spring urges said control plate upwards so that 

